Today, the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau announced the first
realignment of its national field office structure in 50 years and management
reforms that will improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance data quality. The
changes will take place gradually over the next 18 months and reduce the number
of regional offices from 12 to six, saving an estimated $15 million to $18
million annually beginning in 2014.

Increasing efficiency, cutting waste and reforming Washington has been a
priority for the Obama Administration since day one, and this consolidation
supports the administration’s ongoing effort to make government more efficient,
effective and accountable to the American people. It also builds on the work of
Census Bureau Director Robert Groves and his management team in bringing in the
2010 Census on time and 25 percent under budget, saving nearly $1.9 billion.

Earlier this month, President Obama and Vice President Biden launched the
Campaign to Cut Waste with the goal of eliminating misspent tax dollars in every
agency and department across the federal government. Whether the budget is in
surplus or deficit, every dollar must be spent as efficiently as possible, but
in a time when so many Americans have had to cut back, our mission takes on
added urgency.